For commercial treatment and certification of susceptible fruit:
Map of 15km suspension zone

More information about the Daw Park outbreak...  

Draft Plant Health Bill
Proposals to update and replace the current Fruit and Plant Protection Act 1992  to minimise the potential for declared plant pests and diseases to be introduced. Read more about the draft Bill...

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Travellers warned on Riverland Highway fruit fly blitz

News Release

Hon Rory McEwen
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries
Minister for Forests


Monday, 4 February 2008

Random roadblocks will be mounted to keep up the fight against fruit fly and protect South Australia’s fruit bowl – the Riverland.

This follows a fruit fly outbreak in suburban Daw Park last week.

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Minister, Rory McEwen said additional random roadblocks would be operating at entry points in the Riverland during the next 10–12 weeks while the Daw Park fruit fly eradication program continued.

“It would be devastating to industry if a fruit fly outbreak hit the Riverland, and the only way that can happen is if someone travelling to the area takes infected fruit with them,” Mr McEwen said.

“The Riverland’s fruit fly free status has been hard won and results in important export markets for the area’s produce. We don’t want to jeopardise this with just one piece of fruit fly maggot infested fruit being brought into the area.

“We urge public co-operation in protecting our industry and our own backyards. It means we protect jobs and protect the Riverland economy, which is already reeling from the drought,” Mr McEwen said.

The Daw Park outbreak has brought home the impact it has on industry well away from the quarantine zone, as well as the inconvenience to the public in the outbreak area.

Commercial growers within 15-kilometres of the outbreak must treat their fruit – in this case usually by cold storage for two weeks – if they want to sell produce into the Riverland or interstate markets of Victoria, Western Australia, and the NSW fruit fly exclusion zone. Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Darwin markets remain open.

“The Daw Park outbreak spells danger time for fruit fly,” Mr McEwen said.

“It’s very important that fruit and fruiting vegetables from the quarantine area declared in Daw Park and surrounding suburbs are not removed from the zone as this could cause other outbreaks.

“This is also the danger time for fruit fly in other areas as people are still travelling while the weather is pleasant and home grown fruit continues to ripen on trees across the state.

“No home grown fruit or fruiting vegetables are allowed into the Riverland from South Australia. Only shop bought fruit and fruiting vegetables with a shop receipt can be taken into the Riverland.

“I urge people to eat their fruit before entering the Riverland or place it in the bins provided on the highways.

“Signs make it clear when people are entering the fruit fly exclusion zone,” Mr McEwen said.

Random road block operations will be mounted at key travel times over the next 10–12 weeks.

The public is urged to report any maggots in fruit to the Fruit Fly Hotline on 1300 666 010.

 

 

 

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